The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-20
NAMES NEW LIQUOR LAW.
1t Is Regarded as Tyrannical and as Putin
Premium on Corruption.

1t Is Regarded as Tyrannical and Putting
Premium on Corruption.
Portland Letter in New York Times.
The amended liquor law goes into effect to-
morrow, and the druggists, the hotel men and
the saloon keepers are in a quandary as to what
they will do about it. The clause in the law
which troubles them is the following: "The
payment of the United States special tax, as a
hquor-seller, or notice of any kind in any place
OF resort indicating that intoxicating liquors
there sold kept or given away unlawfuy. shall
be held to be prima facie evidence that the per-
son or persons paying said tax, and the party or
parties displaying said notices, are common sell
ers OF intoxicating liquors, and the premises SO
Kept by them common nuisances."
What IS TO be done no one knows Each deal
er IN the liquor business is waiting to see what
his neighbor will do. At the present time there
are l, $50 persons in Maine who take out United
States LIQUOR licenses-170 of them are in Port
land and LOO in Bangor. These licenses do not
expire until the 1st of May, but the prohib:ory
party people intend so they say. to make move
all along the line on Monday and ascertain who
nave license. The opinion is that no liquor
will be sold by any reputable dealer after Mon
day. Governor Bodwell says he shall do all in
his power to help enforce the new liquor law.
The result will be that the liquor business in
Maine wlii as has been the case before, be driven
into dives and into club-rooms. Deputy Col
lector Cromwell, Of this city, informs me that
no applications have been made for United
States licenses, as is usual at this time of the
year, anu ne states Lnat jealous PrOhlDltlOnlStS
daily inquire of him if the liquor dealers are ap-
plying for licenses, as has been the custom. His
only answer to these inquiries is: "If any one
asks you, you tell them you don't know"
Prominent Republicans in this city en-
phatlc In their denunciations of the now law
They pronounce it absurd, unreasonable and ty-
rannical, and further say that, if it is enforced,
when another Maine election occurs it will be as
much OF q Waterloo to the Republicans as was
the late contest in Rhode Island It is we'll
known fact that the Renuhlicaus of this " car
rled the last municipal election here by proms-
ing the liquor dealers that there should be no
further temperance legislation. Now the drug
gists and hotel men say the Republicans made
the word OF promise to the and broke it to
the hope. 1t is we'll understood that Governor
Bodwell was opposed to any further temper
ance legislation and he so stated in his message.
But he did not have the moral courage to veto
the bill. The pressure brought to bear on him
by Blaine, Dingley. and other republican lead
ers was all powerful. and he signed the bill
which is now denounced by nine-tenths Of the
rank and file of his party throughout the State.
In an attempt to make bid for the St. John
votes In Maine and throughout the country,
Blaine and the other Republican leaders, to use
one OF Scion Chase's rough but expressive
phrases. have bitten off more than they can
chew" The passage of the BILL however, has
had one effect that will be far-reachng in its
consequences. It has opened tho eyes of hun
dreds OF Republicans to the hypocrisy of their
party leaders, and many of the voters are in
cpSh kcvoiSs a pIoUiucub hepuUllCdu Ol THIS
city said yesterday: II am Disguised with
Blaine and with his man Friday, Bodwell and
believe that if an election was to DO held to-
morrow, Maine would 90 Democratic"
This opinion is substantially the same as that
expressed by hundreds Of others in the State. A
law which is so tyrannical that it will not allow
druggist to sell pint of brandy, nor to benefit
person who lies at the point of death. should
be denounced, and will be by every person of
common sense. What will be the RESULT 1t is
predicted that the law is severe that it will
become dead letter. and tina. this was the re-
suit anticipated by the Republican leaders when
the bill was passed through the Legislature. II